Let’s hear it, Husker fans: “We got Bo! We got Bo! We got Bo!”
It wasn’t long ago that we were saying: “We want Bo! We want Bo! We want Bo!”
We got him in December 2007. Now we really got him.
Bo Pelini is now set to earn $1.851 million dollars annually as the Huskers football head coach. The pay raise is substantial for Pelini, and moves him in to the middle of the Big 12 in terms of salaries for football coaches. Athletic director Tom Osborne cited the program's progress in Pelini's first year as the primary reason for the increase.
Pelini's initial contract paid him $1.1 million annually. The Huskers went 9-4 in his first year as coach but most importantly the team won six of its final seven games. His record was at the top when it comes to first year coaches around the country. Yes, much better than overhyped first-year head coaches Rich Rodriguez. Very impressive 3-9 record at Michigan, Rich. Yes, much better than that all impressive 4-8 record that Rick Neuheisul put together at UCLA. Both coaches = frauds.
Even more telling than Nebraska’s 9-4 record was that the team was improved in several key areas.
Also, and this should not go unnoticed, Pelini’s assistant coaches also received a hike in pay with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson making the biggest leap. Watson, whose contract called for $225,000 in 2008, will earn $375,000 in 2009. How’s that for new president Barack Obama’s stimulus package?
Don’t underestimate the assistants getting a pay raise. Granted, some assistant coaches want to be head coaches but if they are taken care of well enough as assistants they might be content to stay in that spot. Pelini values as much – just like Tom Osborne did.
Is $1.851 million a lot of coin? Well, it’s not chump change. If Bo wants to take his family out for a prime rib dinner at Misty’s, he won’t be driven to the poor house but it’s not totally exorbitant either. Not when Baylor’s Art Briles is slated to earn $1.8 million and Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads is scheduled to earn $1.15 million. Not when Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops is paid $3.8 million a year for his team to be MIA in BCS bowl games. OK, they have been there in body but other than that it’s hard to quantify their existence. Memo to Stoops: You should have saved some of those 60 point efforts in place of that gigantic 14-point performance against Florida in the BCS title game.
OK, yes $1.851 million is a fair amount of coin but we needed to secure Pelini long term.
The fact that head football coaches at Baylor and Iowa St. was making more than the Nebraska head football coach in my book wasn't right.
Yes, you can also argue that the move was premature on Osborne’s behalf to give Bo a pay hike. Yes, we could have made Bo wait say halfway through the 2009 season to make sure 2008 was not an aberration.
After all, we did get burned by giving Bill Callahan a contract extension after we beat Nevada 52-10 in the 2007 season opener only to watch the season go to hell in a handbag at 5-7 by season’s end. Callahan was out the door. As in dismissed.
Going into 2007, however, Callahan had as many detractors as supporters despite Nebraska winning the Big 12 North Division (its first since 1999) and reaching a New Years Day Bowl Game in 2006. You can also argue that we underachieved in 2006. USC, Texas, Oklahoma, and Auburn were very beatable, yet we came up short in each game. The blowout loss to an average Oklahoma State team was not good either. Nebraska should have won at least two of those games if not three or four. There were plenty of indicators for people to base reservations on with Callahan, and those people proved correct. Yours truly was proven wrong. I'd like to see you put out any indicators that Bo doesn't have things on track.
Point being, Callahan’s contract was extended despite having limited success. The best team he had went 9-5 in 2006 but 3-4 down the stretch. Pelini, however, did much more than get the Huskers to go 9-4 and win six of their last seven games. Pelini inherited a group of kids that had a sagging confidence level. The truth of the matter is that Bo cares about the kids. Sure, he might give them tough love. He’s got no patience for kids being knuckleheads. He’s rough around the edges but if he loves you, there’s nothing he won’t do for you.
If the Huskers are to become that premier college football program again, I think making Pelini the sixth highest paid coach in the conference is totally fair. The prestige factor by itself should warrant such a pay hike.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Do you root for your conference in Bowl Games and March Madness?
To root or not to root. To be rooted for or not to be rooted for.
Every season when college football bowl games start or the NCAA basketball tournament gets underway, you frequently hear people talk about “rooting for teams in the conference.” The argument in favor of that is so the conference “looks good.”
While I can sort of understand that argument, I must say that I don’t just roll over on command when I hear it.
For example, I am a proud University of Nebraska graduate (Class of 1997). At Nebraska, football is king whereas basketball takes a backseat. Sorry, Husker fans. Let’s face it, if the football team went 5-7 and the basketball team made the Sweet 16, football would still be the No. 1 ticket. At other schools, the opposite would be true. At say, Kentucky, the football team could make a BCS bowl game and the basketball team could stumble to a .500. Basketball will always be king.
To take a Big 12 example, in 2007, Kansas’ football team went 12-1 including an Orange Bowl win over Virginia Tech. Three months later, the basketball team defeated Memphis for the NCAA title. However, when I think of the Jayhawks, I think basketball. Why? Because they are consistently good. Whereas football, while it has had a few spikes of success, never has enjoyed sustained success. What I mean by sustained is say 10-year period.
It’s definitely rare to be powerful at both sports. Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and Ohio State have bucked the trend in recent years and have been strong at both sports but they are the exception rather than the rule.
Back to this whole argument of “rooting for your conference so it looks good.” Yes, a strong showing by your conference in bowl games and the NCAA tournament adds credibility for the conference. However, my argument is that if I wouldn’t root for say Oklahoma at any point in the regular season why should I change now? Plus, shouldn’t I be more worried about how my own team does?
Speaking as a Husker fan, in basketball, I root for the Big 12 without reservation. In football, I tend to go back and forth with that belief.
Why?
We haven’t made the NCAA tournament since 1997-1998 and have had four losing seasons since that year. I feel confident about the direction head coach Doc Sadler is taking the team but let’s face it, because basketball is not woven into the culture like football, it’ll take Doc longer than it will football head coach Bo Pelini to get the Huskers among the elite.
That said, I root for the Big 12 across the board because it’s not as if we are a threat to the Big 12 powers and I look at it as “well, if we’re not going to have NCAA tournament success then why not see someone else do it?”
In football, despite our 5-7 to 9-4 turnaround in 2008 under Pelini in his first season, we are obviously not where we are accustomed to being but I don’t think it’s going to be long.
Since other teams are a threat to us, my dislike for say Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas State runs deeper. Well, I can respect OU and Texas because while their programs and fan base have a cocky mentality at least they have produced National titles. Colorado, Missouri and Kansas State have not produced didley. Sorry, Colorado, your shared National title in 1990 will not get acknowledged since you needed five downs to beat a sorry ass Missouri team.
I will confess that one time in my life I did root for the Buffs was the 1995 Fiesta Bowl when a 10-1 Colorado team played a 6-4-1 Notre Dame team. Typical of Notre Dame getting bowl game preferential treatment. Damn elitists.
It might be blasphemy for a Husker fan to say this but I was glad to see Colorado kick Notre Dame’s ass 41-24. Another bit of irony with my dislike for the Buffs, one of my favorite Oakland Raiders from when I covered the team as a freelance writer from 1999-2005 was a Colorado Buffalo. He is Greg Biekert. I always admired the consistency in his performance and preparation.
This past bowl game season, I struggled with the idea of rooting for Missouri to beat Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl and Oklahoma to beat Florida in the BCS Bowl. On one hand, I want the Big 12 schools to win but my dislike for them runs so deep that it’s hard.
Every season when college football bowl games start or the NCAA basketball tournament gets underway, you frequently hear people talk about “rooting for teams in the conference.” The argument in favor of that is so the conference “looks good.”
While I can sort of understand that argument, I must say that I don’t just roll over on command when I hear it.
For example, I am a proud University of Nebraska graduate (Class of 1997). At Nebraska, football is king whereas basketball takes a backseat. Sorry, Husker fans. Let’s face it, if the football team went 5-7 and the basketball team made the Sweet 16, football would still be the No. 1 ticket. At other schools, the opposite would be true. At say, Kentucky, the football team could make a BCS bowl game and the basketball team could stumble to a .500. Basketball will always be king.
To take a Big 12 example, in 2007, Kansas’ football team went 12-1 including an Orange Bowl win over Virginia Tech. Three months later, the basketball team defeated Memphis for the NCAA title. However, when I think of the Jayhawks, I think basketball. Why? Because they are consistently good. Whereas football, while it has had a few spikes of success, never has enjoyed sustained success. What I mean by sustained is say 10-year period.
It’s definitely rare to be powerful at both sports. Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and Ohio State have bucked the trend in recent years and have been strong at both sports but they are the exception rather than the rule.
Back to this whole argument of “rooting for your conference so it looks good.” Yes, a strong showing by your conference in bowl games and the NCAA tournament adds credibility for the conference. However, my argument is that if I wouldn’t root for say Oklahoma at any point in the regular season why should I change now? Plus, shouldn’t I be more worried about how my own team does?
Speaking as a Husker fan, in basketball, I root for the Big 12 without reservation. In football, I tend to go back and forth with that belief.
Why?
We haven’t made the NCAA tournament since 1997-1998 and have had four losing seasons since that year. I feel confident about the direction head coach Doc Sadler is taking the team but let’s face it, because basketball is not woven into the culture like football, it’ll take Doc longer than it will football head coach Bo Pelini to get the Huskers among the elite.
That said, I root for the Big 12 across the board because it’s not as if we are a threat to the Big 12 powers and I look at it as “well, if we’re not going to have NCAA tournament success then why not see someone else do it?”
In football, despite our 5-7 to 9-4 turnaround in 2008 under Pelini in his first season, we are obviously not where we are accustomed to being but I don’t think it’s going to be long.
Since other teams are a threat to us, my dislike for say Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas State runs deeper. Well, I can respect OU and Texas because while their programs and fan base have a cocky mentality at least they have produced National titles. Colorado, Missouri and Kansas State have not produced didley. Sorry, Colorado, your shared National title in 1990 will not get acknowledged since you needed five downs to beat a sorry ass Missouri team.
I will confess that one time in my life I did root for the Buffs was the 1995 Fiesta Bowl when a 10-1 Colorado team played a 6-4-1 Notre Dame team. Typical of Notre Dame getting bowl game preferential treatment. Damn elitists.
It might be blasphemy for a Husker fan to say this but I was glad to see Colorado kick Notre Dame’s ass 41-24. Another bit of irony with my dislike for the Buffs, one of my favorite Oakland Raiders from when I covered the team as a freelance writer from 1999-2005 was a Colorado Buffalo. He is Greg Biekert. I always admired the consistency in his performance and preparation.
This past bowl game season, I struggled with the idea of rooting for Missouri to beat Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl and Oklahoma to beat Florida in the BCS Bowl. On one hand, I want the Big 12 schools to win but my dislike for them runs so deep that it’s hard.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
How much will the Husker defense improve in Pelini's second year?
It is generally assumed that after having had one season to absorb the scheme, Nebraska’s defense will make “a huge jump” during the 2009 season.
Second-year Husker head coach Bo Pelini said as much during his press conference on the eve of the beginning of spring practice Tuesday. After leading the nation in terrible defense in 2007 (ranking 112th overall), the Huskers climbed to 55th overall a year ago.
The No. 55 ranking was exactly the same as where Nebraska finished during a 7-7 season in 2002 with Craig Bohl as the defensive coordinator. In 2007, Kevin Cosgrove made Bohl look like Charlie McBride.
Nebraska ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 in total defense, No. 3 in rushing defense and No. 6 in scoring defense last year after picking up the rear in each category in 2007.
Last year, Nebraska allowed about 10 fewer points and 125 fewer yards per game than the 2007 defense that Pelini was hired to fix. That improvement can be traced to playing with better effort along with the offense averaging over 34 minutes per game in time of possession to help a still building defense.
The 2008 Huskers held four of their last seven opponents below 300 total yards, but also scorched for 62 points and 508 yards at Oklahoma, 52 points and 462 yards by Missouri and nearly nine yards per play at Texas Tech.
We’ve heard all of the arguments why the Husker defense should be better. The real question is how much should we expect the defense to improve? Top 30? Top 20? Top 10?
My realistic expectation would lie somewhere between 20-30. Since the Big 12 has become chalk full of offenses that resemble basketball teams in pads, I’m not sure that a Top Ten defense is realistic but if Nebraska can finish say in the Top 25 in defense, that means we are slowing downing the potent offenses and putting the clamps on the bad ones.
We all long for the days of the Peter Bros., Grant Wistrom, and Jared Tomich causing nightmares. With the exception of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, however, Nebraska’s defense does not have anyone that compares to Blackshirt defenses of that era. And even in Suh’s case, he only began to scratch the surface last season with his potential.
The Husker defense will need to be better since the offense is breaking in a new starting quarterback and a new group of receivers. Secondly, they players know what to expect and there should be a lot less thinking about their assignments. Therefore what they do should come as second nature. In turn, that will mean Pelini will be more comfortable implementing more intricate things within the scheme like we saw when his LSU defenses wreaked havoc.
Despite the Huskers having limitations at some positions, especially linebacker, Pelini resisted the temptation to burn redshirts in order to develop those players the right way. Those redshirted players such as Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Alonzo Whaley and Micah Kreikemeier should be ready to contribute. However, let’s not forget that the only way of truly telling how good a player is until he plays in game situations.
The two biggest keys, however, to the Husker defense making a quantum leap are forcing more turnovers and simply executing assignments better. The Huskers forced just 17 turnovers last season.
There’s no doubt that Nebraska’s defense played with better effort in 2008 after a sorry effort in 2007. However, there were also plenty of blown assignments that led to big plays. Just picture Colorado’s Riar Greer blowing by Husker cornerback Lance Thorell.
Therein lies Pelini’s statement of “We were our own worst enemy sometimes.” Playing defense is a combination of playing with a controlled fury and discipline.
With Suh, Pierre Allen and hopefully a healthy Barry Turner coming back, the defensive line should still be pretty stout despite losing Zach Potter and Ty Steinkuhler.
The linebacking corps has plenty of young players ready to make their mark but their youth also means you have to live with mistakes as well as big plays. The secondary brings back a lot of experience and talent and should improve. Therefore, we should not be seeing the amount of assignment busts we saw last season.
Second-year Husker head coach Bo Pelini said as much during his press conference on the eve of the beginning of spring practice Tuesday. After leading the nation in terrible defense in 2007 (ranking 112th overall), the Huskers climbed to 55th overall a year ago.
The No. 55 ranking was exactly the same as where Nebraska finished during a 7-7 season in 2002 with Craig Bohl as the defensive coordinator. In 2007, Kevin Cosgrove made Bohl look like Charlie McBride.
Nebraska ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 in total defense, No. 3 in rushing defense and No. 6 in scoring defense last year after picking up the rear in each category in 2007.
Last year, Nebraska allowed about 10 fewer points and 125 fewer yards per game than the 2007 defense that Pelini was hired to fix. That improvement can be traced to playing with better effort along with the offense averaging over 34 minutes per game in time of possession to help a still building defense.
The 2008 Huskers held four of their last seven opponents below 300 total yards, but also scorched for 62 points and 508 yards at Oklahoma, 52 points and 462 yards by Missouri and nearly nine yards per play at Texas Tech.
We’ve heard all of the arguments why the Husker defense should be better. The real question is how much should we expect the defense to improve? Top 30? Top 20? Top 10?
My realistic expectation would lie somewhere between 20-30. Since the Big 12 has become chalk full of offenses that resemble basketball teams in pads, I’m not sure that a Top Ten defense is realistic but if Nebraska can finish say in the Top 25 in defense, that means we are slowing downing the potent offenses and putting the clamps on the bad ones.
We all long for the days of the Peter Bros., Grant Wistrom, and Jared Tomich causing nightmares. With the exception of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, however, Nebraska’s defense does not have anyone that compares to Blackshirt defenses of that era. And even in Suh’s case, he only began to scratch the surface last season with his potential.
The Husker defense will need to be better since the offense is breaking in a new starting quarterback and a new group of receivers. Secondly, they players know what to expect and there should be a lot less thinking about their assignments. Therefore what they do should come as second nature. In turn, that will mean Pelini will be more comfortable implementing more intricate things within the scheme like we saw when his LSU defenses wreaked havoc.
Despite the Huskers having limitations at some positions, especially linebacker, Pelini resisted the temptation to burn redshirts in order to develop those players the right way. Those redshirted players such as Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Alonzo Whaley and Micah Kreikemeier should be ready to contribute. However, let’s not forget that the only way of truly telling how good a player is until he plays in game situations.
The two biggest keys, however, to the Husker defense making a quantum leap are forcing more turnovers and simply executing assignments better. The Huskers forced just 17 turnovers last season.
There’s no doubt that Nebraska’s defense played with better effort in 2008 after a sorry effort in 2007. However, there were also plenty of blown assignments that led to big plays. Just picture Colorado’s Riar Greer blowing by Husker cornerback Lance Thorell.
Therein lies Pelini’s statement of “We were our own worst enemy sometimes.” Playing defense is a combination of playing with a controlled fury and discipline.
With Suh, Pierre Allen and hopefully a healthy Barry Turner coming back, the defensive line should still be pretty stout despite losing Zach Potter and Ty Steinkuhler.
The linebacking corps has plenty of young players ready to make their mark but their youth also means you have to live with mistakes as well as big plays. The secondary brings back a lot of experience and talent and should improve. Therefore, we should not be seeing the amount of assignment busts we saw last season.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Quick hitters from the pre-spring press conference
Year Two of the Bo Pelini Era at Nebraska continues in earnest as spring drills get underway today.
Watching Pelini’s press conference Tuesday that also rekindled another reason why we Husker fans identify with him. Pelini does not shy away from the words “high expectation.” In an earlier “wine Country Husker” blog back in January, I posed the question, “what are your expectations?”
One thing that stood out to me when Bo Pelini was hired to replace Callahan was that he does not shy away from expectations. I remember very specifically an interview he did on the Jim Rome Show. For starters, I do not listen to Jim Rome because while he knows his material, his show reeks of too much adolescence for my taste. However, since Bo Pelini was his guest, I decided to make an exception and listen.I remember Rome using the word “rebuild” in one of his questions. Pelini replied with a statement to the effect of, “I’m not here to rebuild, I’m here to win now.” At the time I thought, well we probably won’t win big right away in 2008 or even 2009 but the fact that he’s not backing away from expectations was refreshing.
The Huskers started the Pelini era with a 9-4 record winning six of their last seven games including a come-from-behind 26-21 win over Clemson in the Gator Bowl.
It is refreshing to see the Huskers in a much different light than the psychologically wounded club that limped to a 5-7 season in 2007. Granted, the 2009 Nebraska squad will hardly evoke memories of the 1993-1997 teams that went 60-3 but you just get the sense that this Husker coaching regime is here to build a program as opposed to just survive from year-to-year.
A few other snap shots at what Pelini addressed as the Huskers begin spring practice:
-- The coaching staff is taking the right approach with true-freshman-to-be quarterback Cody Green, who is expected to miss at least the first week of spring drills with a hip injury. Green finished high school early and enrolled at Nebraska in December.
-- Linebacker LaTravis Washington (cousin of former Husker cornerback Fabian Washington) has moved to quarterback. Keep in mind, Washington was a high school quarterback. The departure of Patrick Witt also created a void. Does that mean the Huskers have fully closed the door on potential transfer Robert Marve (late of the University of Miami? Suffice it to say, I don’t think Washington makes the change if Witt is still in the program.
-- Offensive line was viewed as a position of solid depth but with Javoirio Burkes out indefinitely with a medical condition, the Huskers can ill-afford any more setbacks on the O-Line.
-- Lots of talk revolves around the quarterbacks but the best position battle might be at linebacker.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
With spring practice coming, the Huskers need to keep building momentum
The Nebraska football team got underway with the Bo Pelini era about as solidly as one could have expected in 2008.
Well, in the end we would like to have seen the 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech and 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech turn into victories. However, after two bowl-less seasons in a four year span (2004-2007) under Bill Callahan capped by a horrific 5-7 campaign in 2007, the Huskers went 9-4 in 2008 punctuated by a 26-21 come-from-behind victory over Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Most importantly, the Huskers finished the season winning six of their last seven games as opposed to losing six of their final seven in 2007.
Just a few weeks ago, Brandon Vogel of the Big Red Network (also a fan blog) devoted a story about how momentum means something. One of the cruxes of his point was that in 2005 Nebraska finished an 8-4 campaign with a three game winning streak capped by a 32-28 come-from-behind win in the Alamo Bowl over Michigan. Most Husker fans thought that finish with a flourish was a sign of things to come.
Vogel also added that after the 2005 season we were “hoping” that the strong finish was a sign of things to come whereas now we “believe” that the 2008 stellar finish is a sign of better times continuing.
That point definitely has merit that I believe to be true but I would also add another view. To me, the key is not so much the fact that Nebraska won six out of seven to finish the season. After all, every year teams start with records of 0-0.
As spring practice gets underway for Year # 2 of the Pelini era, the important thing is what the Huskers do with that momentum. How do they build on it? Do they sustain that success?
If Nebraska goes worse than 9-4, that would represent a step backward and therefore negate the momentum generated from last season. On the other hand, if the Huskers match or surpass that 9-4 mark, then we can say they are at least sustaining their success and hopefully enhancing it.
The Husker offseason has not been totally quiet. There was the departure of Patrick Witt and Major Culbert. There was Barry Turner’s minor scrape with the law. There was South Florida’s flirtation with Husker linebackers coach Mike Ekeler as its defensive coordinator. The best news was defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s decision to stay in school for his senior season. If you can’t beat ‘em, Suh ‘em!
The next step is to have a solid spring practice. Keep everyone healthy and continue to refine the principles. Then, continue to be well-continued until fall camp and keep that momentum going through the season opener.
In some ways, the Huskers did sustain their success in 2006 following the 2005 finish. They won their first Big 12 North title in seven years and despite losing 21-7 to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game and 17-14 to a Top Ten Auburn squad in the Cotton Bowl, they were games that Nebraska could have easily won. However, after starting the season 6-1, Nebraska went 3-4 down the stretch and all of the sudden the perception of the season did not feel as good.
In the decade of the 2000s, momentum has been mostly a foreign concept. In 2000, the Huskers finished with a 66-17 Alamo Bowl with over Big Ten fraud Northwestern. In 2001, Nebraska concluded with blowout losses to Colorado and Miami. In 2002, the Huskers finished a 7-7 season with three straight losses. In 2003, Nebraska finished with stirring wins over Colorado and Michigan State but with the firing of head coach Frank Solich and the subsequent coaching search, the program was a rudderless ship.
In 2004, the Huskers finished a 5-6 season with three straight losses. We addressed the 2005-2008 seasons already so you get the idea.
Momentum, however, can also be fickle in that it can work in your favor or against you. It can be a sign of good things to come or it can be a tease. That said for the Huskers, I think their current momentum resembles the former.
We know the coaching staff is solid. The team still has its limitations in some areas as far as talent but the coaching staff has demonstrated that win or lose, they will have a team that is ready to play every week and will give maximum effort.
If the Huskers are to sustain their success, the defense will need to continue its forward momentum while also getting solid play from the quarterback position.
Most importantly, it’s good to see Uncle Mo back.
Well, in the end we would like to have seen the 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech and 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech turn into victories. However, after two bowl-less seasons in a four year span (2004-2007) under Bill Callahan capped by a horrific 5-7 campaign in 2007, the Huskers went 9-4 in 2008 punctuated by a 26-21 come-from-behind victory over Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Most importantly, the Huskers finished the season winning six of their last seven games as opposed to losing six of their final seven in 2007.
Just a few weeks ago, Brandon Vogel of the Big Red Network (also a fan blog) devoted a story about how momentum means something. One of the cruxes of his point was that in 2005 Nebraska finished an 8-4 campaign with a three game winning streak capped by a 32-28 come-from-behind win in the Alamo Bowl over Michigan. Most Husker fans thought that finish with a flourish was a sign of things to come.
Vogel also added that after the 2005 season we were “hoping” that the strong finish was a sign of things to come whereas now we “believe” that the 2008 stellar finish is a sign of better times continuing.
That point definitely has merit that I believe to be true but I would also add another view. To me, the key is not so much the fact that Nebraska won six out of seven to finish the season. After all, every year teams start with records of 0-0.
As spring practice gets underway for Year # 2 of the Pelini era, the important thing is what the Huskers do with that momentum. How do they build on it? Do they sustain that success?
If Nebraska goes worse than 9-4, that would represent a step backward and therefore negate the momentum generated from last season. On the other hand, if the Huskers match or surpass that 9-4 mark, then we can say they are at least sustaining their success and hopefully enhancing it.
The Husker offseason has not been totally quiet. There was the departure of Patrick Witt and Major Culbert. There was Barry Turner’s minor scrape with the law. There was South Florida’s flirtation with Husker linebackers coach Mike Ekeler as its defensive coordinator. The best news was defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s decision to stay in school for his senior season. If you can’t beat ‘em, Suh ‘em!
The next step is to have a solid spring practice. Keep everyone healthy and continue to refine the principles. Then, continue to be well-continued until fall camp and keep that momentum going through the season opener.
In some ways, the Huskers did sustain their success in 2006 following the 2005 finish. They won their first Big 12 North title in seven years and despite losing 21-7 to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game and 17-14 to a Top Ten Auburn squad in the Cotton Bowl, they were games that Nebraska could have easily won. However, after starting the season 6-1, Nebraska went 3-4 down the stretch and all of the sudden the perception of the season did not feel as good.
In the decade of the 2000s, momentum has been mostly a foreign concept. In 2000, the Huskers finished with a 66-17 Alamo Bowl with over Big Ten fraud Northwestern. In 2001, Nebraska concluded with blowout losses to Colorado and Miami. In 2002, the Huskers finished a 7-7 season with three straight losses. In 2003, Nebraska finished with stirring wins over Colorado and Michigan State but with the firing of head coach Frank Solich and the subsequent coaching search, the program was a rudderless ship.
In 2004, the Huskers finished a 5-6 season with three straight losses. We addressed the 2005-2008 seasons already so you get the idea.
Momentum, however, can also be fickle in that it can work in your favor or against you. It can be a sign of good things to come or it can be a tease. That said for the Huskers, I think their current momentum resembles the former.
We know the coaching staff is solid. The team still has its limitations in some areas as far as talent but the coaching staff has demonstrated that win or lose, they will have a team that is ready to play every week and will give maximum effort.
If the Huskers are to sustain their success, the defense will need to continue its forward momentum while also getting solid play from the quarterback position.
Most importantly, it’s good to see Uncle Mo back.
Friday, March 20, 2009
BCS not perfect but give it an edge over March Madness
I know many purists swear by the NCAA Tournament in college basketball and swear at the BCS in college football.
You can bet the deed to your house that people will go gaga for the next few weeks during March Madness and cries of a playoff in football will be in full bloom by early-to-mid October.
Heck, our president Barack Obama has already gotten on his soapbox about college football needing a playoff system. Don’t you think our country has more pressing needs at the moment? Like fixing the economy. Like addressing the war in Iraq.
I'm in the minority, while the BCS (Bowl Championship series) is not perfect, I don't think a playoff (a la NCAA March Madness in basketball) is the cat's meow either like some people are inclined to believe. OK, I know what you’re thinking. “Lay of the bong, Vince.”
For the record, I do enjoy March Madness. Like most people, I fill out my office pool but I refrained from asking Rick Neuheisul for any advice. Sorry, I could not resist. However, you’re not going to hear me say that March Madness is the greatest thing since the Great Wall of China.
You see, before the BCS came into being in the 1998 season, we frequently had two undefeated teams. The problem is that they seldom matched up against each either: 1991 Miami-Washington, 1994 Nebraska-Penn state, 1997 Nebraska-Michigan. Did those teams play each other on the field? No.
Why? Because the Pac-10 and Big 10 were so hell-bent on keeping their Rose Bowl tradition but when they had an unbeaten team, they'd whine about either getting a split National title (i.e. Michigan in 1997) or no National title (i.e. Penn State in 1994). I say, sorry folks. You can't have it both ways (i.e. keep your tradition and whine about a split National Title). The reality is that Penn State screwed itself out of the National title in 1994 by going from Independent to Big 10.
The BCS hasn't been without its controversies either. One loss Florida State instead of Miami (also a one loss team) played unbeaten Oklahoma in 2000. One loss Nebraska instead of Oregon (also a one loss team) played unbeaten Miami in 2001. One loss Oklahoma instead of one loss USC played LSU for the BCS title in 2003. One loss Florida instead of one loss Michigan played Ohio State in 2006. Of course, no one was complaining when in 2002 (Ohio State-Miami), 2004 (Oklahoma-USC) or 2005 (Texas-USC) were a battle of two unbeaten teams.
The 2006-2008 seasons, however, were jumbled beyond belief. In 2006, you had two one loss teams playing for the title as Florida met Ohio State, while one-loss Michigan and undefeated Boise State were left in the cold.
In 2007, you had a two-loss LSU team meeting a one-loss Ohio State team. In the two process, many people lobbied for USC and/or Georgia (a pair of two loss teams) to play in the title game.
In 2008, two one-loss teams (Florida and Oklahoma) met for the title while unbeaten Utah and one loss teams USC, Texas, Penn state and Alabama were left in the cold.
Ohio State lost both of its title games (41-16 to Florida and 38-24 to LSU) as viewers of the game wasted four hours of their lives they will not get back. Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14.
The interesting subplot to the whole matter was that Boise State and Utah (two nonBCS schools) made noise. Boise State defeated Oklahoma 32-21 in the Fiesta Bowl in 2006. Well, 2006 regular season/2007 bowl game. While Utah defeated Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl in a game that really wasn’t even that close.
I’m perhaps in the minority but I think Boise State and Utah should have been awarded a share of the National Title or been allowed to play in the title game. And please, don’t come at me with the strength of schedule argument or the notion of “they would have gotten blown out.” And if they do, so what, I don’t see how it’s any worse than watching Ohio State get its doors blown off.
The BCS has been tweaked over the years with things such as quality win points, computer rankings, strength of schedule, etc. The anti-BCS folks have been equally tweaked and want say a four-team or and eight-team playoff with the preservation of the bowl games. Unfortunately, they forget one thing.
For example, suppose we have one undefeated team and four one-loss teams. How are you then going to justify leaving out one of the one-loss teams? Some would say make it eight teams. OK. Let's say you have two unbeaten teams, four one-loss teams and three two loss teams? How then do you justify leaving out one of the two loss teams.
I find it almost comical how fans, media and talk show hosts whine and complain about the BCS just like they whined and complained about Nebraska (2001) and Oklahoma (2003) not winning its conference but yet still playing for the title. Yet they don't say boo, yeah or neah about a team finishing seventh in its basketball conference and getting an NCAA tournament bid.
The pro March Madness folks would then say but "at least it's played on the court." True but it doesn't stop teams that were "on the bubble" from complaining about not getting an NCAA tournament bid.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament might be exciting but it's nothing more than a gimmick and de-emphasizes the regular season. Fans that love it say that a team can "get hot" all of the sudden. My argument is that any team can "get hot" all of the sudden but once they lose a game, the pressure is gone.
Whereas going undefeated is a bigger accomplishment. It's like pitching a perfect game in baseball. With each win, the laws of averages are not on your side because that team has a Bull's Eye right across its ever loving chest.
Again, March Madness is exciting but the field of 64 teams is watered down worse than a flat Budweiser and please don't come at with the George Masons of the world either. I say cut the field to 16 teams and have truly the best teams.
If the idea is to find out which college basketball team is the best by having a tournament and having everyone play it off, then when play the regular season in the first place? The BCS might need its share of tweaking but I've always argued that it comes closer to crowning a true national champion than college basketball does.
The best way to make a playoff in football a plausible situation is to make Notre Dame join a conference. I believe that’s as big of a reason as any why there is no playoff. Others have come up with a solution of matching up all conference winners. I like that scenario in that there is no ambiguity but some years one conference is appreciably strong while another is weak. I’d say just take the Top eight BCS teams, conference champ or not.
Of course, for a playoff to work Notre Dame must get off its high chair and join a conference but given their elitist mentality that’ll never happen.
You can bet the deed to your house that people will go gaga for the next few weeks during March Madness and cries of a playoff in football will be in full bloom by early-to-mid October.
Heck, our president Barack Obama has already gotten on his soapbox about college football needing a playoff system. Don’t you think our country has more pressing needs at the moment? Like fixing the economy. Like addressing the war in Iraq.
I'm in the minority, while the BCS (Bowl Championship series) is not perfect, I don't think a playoff (a la NCAA March Madness in basketball) is the cat's meow either like some people are inclined to believe. OK, I know what you’re thinking. “Lay of the bong, Vince.”
For the record, I do enjoy March Madness. Like most people, I fill out my office pool but I refrained from asking Rick Neuheisul for any advice. Sorry, I could not resist. However, you’re not going to hear me say that March Madness is the greatest thing since the Great Wall of China.
You see, before the BCS came into being in the 1998 season, we frequently had two undefeated teams. The problem is that they seldom matched up against each either: 1991 Miami-Washington, 1994 Nebraska-Penn state, 1997 Nebraska-Michigan. Did those teams play each other on the field? No.
Why? Because the Pac-10 and Big 10 were so hell-bent on keeping their Rose Bowl tradition but when they had an unbeaten team, they'd whine about either getting a split National title (i.e. Michigan in 1997) or no National title (i.e. Penn State in 1994). I say, sorry folks. You can't have it both ways (i.e. keep your tradition and whine about a split National Title). The reality is that Penn State screwed itself out of the National title in 1994 by going from Independent to Big 10.
The BCS hasn't been without its controversies either. One loss Florida State instead of Miami (also a one loss team) played unbeaten Oklahoma in 2000. One loss Nebraska instead of Oregon (also a one loss team) played unbeaten Miami in 2001. One loss Oklahoma instead of one loss USC played LSU for the BCS title in 2003. One loss Florida instead of one loss Michigan played Ohio State in 2006. Of course, no one was complaining when in 2002 (Ohio State-Miami), 2004 (Oklahoma-USC) or 2005 (Texas-USC) were a battle of two unbeaten teams.
The 2006-2008 seasons, however, were jumbled beyond belief. In 2006, you had two one loss teams playing for the title as Florida met Ohio State, while one-loss Michigan and undefeated Boise State were left in the cold.
In 2007, you had a two-loss LSU team meeting a one-loss Ohio State team. In the two process, many people lobbied for USC and/or Georgia (a pair of two loss teams) to play in the title game.
In 2008, two one-loss teams (Florida and Oklahoma) met for the title while unbeaten Utah and one loss teams USC, Texas, Penn state and Alabama were left in the cold.
Ohio State lost both of its title games (41-16 to Florida and 38-24 to LSU) as viewers of the game wasted four hours of their lives they will not get back. Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14.
The interesting subplot to the whole matter was that Boise State and Utah (two nonBCS schools) made noise. Boise State defeated Oklahoma 32-21 in the Fiesta Bowl in 2006. Well, 2006 regular season/2007 bowl game. While Utah defeated Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl in a game that really wasn’t even that close.
I’m perhaps in the minority but I think Boise State and Utah should have been awarded a share of the National Title or been allowed to play in the title game. And please, don’t come at me with the strength of schedule argument or the notion of “they would have gotten blown out.” And if they do, so what, I don’t see how it’s any worse than watching Ohio State get its doors blown off.
The BCS has been tweaked over the years with things such as quality win points, computer rankings, strength of schedule, etc. The anti-BCS folks have been equally tweaked and want say a four-team or and eight-team playoff with the preservation of the bowl games. Unfortunately, they forget one thing.
For example, suppose we have one undefeated team and four one-loss teams. How are you then going to justify leaving out one of the one-loss teams? Some would say make it eight teams. OK. Let's say you have two unbeaten teams, four one-loss teams and three two loss teams? How then do you justify leaving out one of the two loss teams.
I find it almost comical how fans, media and talk show hosts whine and complain about the BCS just like they whined and complained about Nebraska (2001) and Oklahoma (2003) not winning its conference but yet still playing for the title. Yet they don't say boo, yeah or neah about a team finishing seventh in its basketball conference and getting an NCAA tournament bid.
The pro March Madness folks would then say but "at least it's played on the court." True but it doesn't stop teams that were "on the bubble" from complaining about not getting an NCAA tournament bid.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament might be exciting but it's nothing more than a gimmick and de-emphasizes the regular season. Fans that love it say that a team can "get hot" all of the sudden. My argument is that any team can "get hot" all of the sudden but once they lose a game, the pressure is gone.
Whereas going undefeated is a bigger accomplishment. It's like pitching a perfect game in baseball. With each win, the laws of averages are not on your side because that team has a Bull's Eye right across its ever loving chest.
Again, March Madness is exciting but the field of 64 teams is watered down worse than a flat Budweiser and please don't come at with the George Masons of the world either. I say cut the field to 16 teams and have truly the best teams.
If the idea is to find out which college basketball team is the best by having a tournament and having everyone play it off, then when play the regular season in the first place? The BCS might need its share of tweaking but I've always argued that it comes closer to crowning a true national champion than college basketball does.
The best way to make a playoff in football a plausible situation is to make Notre Dame join a conference. I believe that’s as big of a reason as any why there is no playoff. Others have come up with a solution of matching up all conference winners. I like that scenario in that there is no ambiguity but some years one conference is appreciably strong while another is weak. I’d say just take the Top eight BCS teams, conference champ or not.
Of course, for a playoff to work Notre Dame must get off its high chair and join a conference but given their elitist mentality that’ll never happen.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Husker fans unite -- root for Pitt to go down!
OK, I took the plunge for another year of the NCAA Tournament and filled out a bracket, joining some old University of Nebraska friends on the ESPN.com website.
With a wife, three kids that are two years old and under plus a full-time job, I have barely watched college basketball. So this year, I winged it more so than any other year. I picked Louisville to beat UConn for the title.
Like most years, there are a handful of teams that can claim a realistic chance of winning it all. Louisville, UConn, North Carolina, Duke, Michigan State and Pittsburgh just to name a few.
I generally root for the Big 12 but of the teams I mentioned, I don’t have a huge preference on who wins the title. Well, with one exception – and I know I speak for many Husker fans.
Pittsburgh.
I have nothing against Pitt players or coach Jamie Dixon. I really don’t even have anything against Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt.
It’s just that damn athletic director Steve Pederson, who is Nebraska’s former athletic director. Thankfully, NU chancellor Harvey Perlman gave the arrogant, elitist Pederson the axe in mid-October 2007.
I was talking to a friend from my college years who lives in Lee’s Summit, MO, by phone the other day. This friend of mine has said a few times that Pederson, who is a North Platte, Neb. Native, is to Nebraskans what OJ Simpson is to most of America.
At first, I found the comparison somewhat odd to compare Pederson to a convicted felon but the more I think about it, the more I see it as a fair statement.
Not to rehash old skeletons but Pederson, Bill Callahan and Kevin Cosgrove were the biggest lightning rods for Husker fans. If any of those individuals even as much as passed through the state of Nebraska, none would be welcomed with open arms but I don’t think they would be tarred and feathered either. Pederson, however, would be extremely vilified. Maybe even tarred and feathered. Not only was he a bad AD. He will go down as the man who gutted Husker football of all the things that made the program unique.
Remember when Pederson was hired, he was viewed as the anti-Bill Byrne. He was a native Nebraskan. He was going to make football priority No. 1 whereas Byrne tried to appeal to all sports. Which is fine to a point but football is the bell cow of every athletic program followed closely by men’s basketball.
Heck, I bought into Pederson being the right guy but when he fostered a culture of disconnect Husker Nation might as well have been Husker “alien-Nation.” I had the chance to meet Bryne several times when I was in college working as a reporter for the Daily Nebraskan and production assistant for KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln. I didn’t always agree with his decisions as AD but in talking to him I at least felt like he was a good person.
I’ll admit I’ve criticized Callahan and Cosgrove my share of the time and rightfully so. However, I do not think either one are bad people. They just have their shortcomings as coaches. Well, Callahan is a good assistant coach, just a bad head coach. Cosgrove might have been a good defensive coordinator at one time, just not at Nebraska.
As for Pedeyshine, I think us Husker fans should thank our lucky stars that Tom Osborne lost the Nebraska gubernatorial election and wound up as Nebraska’s AD. Think about it, if Osborne won the election, we might still be stuck with Pederson today.
Husker fans unite when watching the NCAA tournament – your favorite team is who ever Pitt’s opponent is!
With a wife, three kids that are two years old and under plus a full-time job, I have barely watched college basketball. So this year, I winged it more so than any other year. I picked Louisville to beat UConn for the title.
Like most years, there are a handful of teams that can claim a realistic chance of winning it all. Louisville, UConn, North Carolina, Duke, Michigan State and Pittsburgh just to name a few.
I generally root for the Big 12 but of the teams I mentioned, I don’t have a huge preference on who wins the title. Well, with one exception – and I know I speak for many Husker fans.
Pittsburgh.
I have nothing against Pitt players or coach Jamie Dixon. I really don’t even have anything against Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt.
It’s just that damn athletic director Steve Pederson, who is Nebraska’s former athletic director. Thankfully, NU chancellor Harvey Perlman gave the arrogant, elitist Pederson the axe in mid-October 2007.
I was talking to a friend from my college years who lives in Lee’s Summit, MO, by phone the other day. This friend of mine has said a few times that Pederson, who is a North Platte, Neb. Native, is to Nebraskans what OJ Simpson is to most of America.
At first, I found the comparison somewhat odd to compare Pederson to a convicted felon but the more I think about it, the more I see it as a fair statement.
Not to rehash old skeletons but Pederson, Bill Callahan and Kevin Cosgrove were the biggest lightning rods for Husker fans. If any of those individuals even as much as passed through the state of Nebraska, none would be welcomed with open arms but I don’t think they would be tarred and feathered either. Pederson, however, would be extremely vilified. Maybe even tarred and feathered. Not only was he a bad AD. He will go down as the man who gutted Husker football of all the things that made the program unique.
Remember when Pederson was hired, he was viewed as the anti-Bill Byrne. He was a native Nebraskan. He was going to make football priority No. 1 whereas Byrne tried to appeal to all sports. Which is fine to a point but football is the bell cow of every athletic program followed closely by men’s basketball.
Heck, I bought into Pederson being the right guy but when he fostered a culture of disconnect Husker Nation might as well have been Husker “alien-Nation.” I had the chance to meet Bryne several times when I was in college working as a reporter for the Daily Nebraskan and production assistant for KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln. I didn’t always agree with his decisions as AD but in talking to him I at least felt like he was a good person.
I’ll admit I’ve criticized Callahan and Cosgrove my share of the time and rightfully so. However, I do not think either one are bad people. They just have their shortcomings as coaches. Well, Callahan is a good assistant coach, just a bad head coach. Cosgrove might have been a good defensive coordinator at one time, just not at Nebraska.
As for Pedeyshine, I think us Husker fans should thank our lucky stars that Tom Osborne lost the Nebraska gubernatorial election and wound up as Nebraska’s AD. Think about it, if Osborne won the election, we might still be stuck with Pederson today.
Husker fans unite when watching the NCAA tournament – your favorite team is who ever Pitt’s opponent is!
It's time for the Blackshirts to produce more turnovers than bakeries
It was generally assumed that when Bo Pelini took over as Nebraska’s football head coach and also brought back Marvin Sanders to coach the defensive backs, that the Huskers would get more takeaways on defense.
With Pelini as the defensive coordinator and Sanders the defensive backs coach, the Huskers generated 47 turnovers, 32 of which came via the interception in 2003. With Kevin Cosgrove as the defensive coordinator from 2004-2007, the Huskers combined to produce just 79 turnovers (just 11 in 2007). Nebraska was not that much better at producing turnovers on defense in 2008 – just 17 to be precise. Randy’s Donut Shop on Capitol Beach Boulevard in Lincoln has produced more turnovers than the Husker defense.
That stat needs to change drastically in 2009 but I’ve got to think Pelini will address that very matter when the Huskers begin spring practice.
The Husker offense should continue to produce points but with quarterback Joe Ganz graduating along with wide receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson, Nebraska will likely need to lean on its defense in the earlygoing of 2009.
The Huskers improved from 112th overall in 2007 to 55th last season in total defense. Part of that improvement was guys playing with greater effort but it was also at least partially attributable to the offense improving their average time of possession from 29:14 in 2007 to 34:01 in 2008 to help a still developing defense.
Nebraska should continue to improve defensively if for no other reason than they will have had a full season to absorb Pelini’s scheme, thus increasing the comfort level. Secondly, that added comfort should allow Pelini implement more variations of his system.
With 50 redshirts pushing to make their mark, one can reason that the Huskers should do dramatically better in creating takeaways. The returning defenders will know their coverages and responsibilities, so they can play more instinctively rather than thinking about what they have to do.
Nebraska was dead last in the Big 12 in turnover margin at minus-11, which in a way makes its 9-4 record last season all the more impressive. The Huskers went three straight games (all losses against Virginia Tech, Missouri and Texas Tech) without producing a turnover. It wouldn’t have mattered against Missouri because the Tigers beat us 52-17. However, Nebraska lost by less than seven points against VaTech (35-30) and Texas Tech (37-31 in overtime). So, a turnover or two might have changed the outcome of those games.
Granted, part of a defense’s ability to produce takeaways is good fortune but it’s also a skill (i.e. being in the right position and having fewer blown assignments). Good solid hitting can also cause turnovers rather than the “Club, Pull and Rip” move from the Cosgrove years. The first guy goes for the textbook tackle and the second guy goes for the strip.
Some stats can be misleading but it’s a known fact that if a team wins the turnover battle, it will win the game about 75 percent of the time. Of course, the other side of the argument is that “points off” turnovers matter more but I tend to debate that issue. Sure, it doesn’t suck to convert turnovers into points. It also doesn’t suck if your offense turns the ball over and then your defense holds the opposition scoreless or even makes them settle for a field goal.
However, if a team creates a turnover and either a) has a sizeable lead in the second half or b) is trying to preserve a lead late in the game, the offense’s objective is not necessarily to score. Instead, it is to run out the clock. That said, turnovers are vital whether they result in points or otherwise. If your defense creates a takeaway, it prevents the opposing offense from scoring points. If your offense turns the ball over, it is costing the team points.
Since the Huskers have to break in a new quarterback, the offense is likely to have a few bumps in the road. Therefore, if the defense can create more takeaways and give the offense a shorter field, the offense might gain confidence.
The Huskers made baby steps in creating turnovers but are going to need a quantum leap forward in 2009.
With Pelini as the defensive coordinator and Sanders the defensive backs coach, the Huskers generated 47 turnovers, 32 of which came via the interception in 2003. With Kevin Cosgrove as the defensive coordinator from 2004-2007, the Huskers combined to produce just 79 turnovers (just 11 in 2007). Nebraska was not that much better at producing turnovers on defense in 2008 – just 17 to be precise. Randy’s Donut Shop on Capitol Beach Boulevard in Lincoln has produced more turnovers than the Husker defense.
That stat needs to change drastically in 2009 but I’ve got to think Pelini will address that very matter when the Huskers begin spring practice.
The Husker offense should continue to produce points but with quarterback Joe Ganz graduating along with wide receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson, Nebraska will likely need to lean on its defense in the earlygoing of 2009.
The Huskers improved from 112th overall in 2007 to 55th last season in total defense. Part of that improvement was guys playing with greater effort but it was also at least partially attributable to the offense improving their average time of possession from 29:14 in 2007 to 34:01 in 2008 to help a still developing defense.
Nebraska should continue to improve defensively if for no other reason than they will have had a full season to absorb Pelini’s scheme, thus increasing the comfort level. Secondly, that added comfort should allow Pelini implement more variations of his system.
With 50 redshirts pushing to make their mark, one can reason that the Huskers should do dramatically better in creating takeaways. The returning defenders will know their coverages and responsibilities, so they can play more instinctively rather than thinking about what they have to do.
Nebraska was dead last in the Big 12 in turnover margin at minus-11, which in a way makes its 9-4 record last season all the more impressive. The Huskers went three straight games (all losses against Virginia Tech, Missouri and Texas Tech) without producing a turnover. It wouldn’t have mattered against Missouri because the Tigers beat us 52-17. However, Nebraska lost by less than seven points against VaTech (35-30) and Texas Tech (37-31 in overtime). So, a turnover or two might have changed the outcome of those games.
Granted, part of a defense’s ability to produce takeaways is good fortune but it’s also a skill (i.e. being in the right position and having fewer blown assignments). Good solid hitting can also cause turnovers rather than the “Club, Pull and Rip” move from the Cosgrove years. The first guy goes for the textbook tackle and the second guy goes for the strip.
Some stats can be misleading but it’s a known fact that if a team wins the turnover battle, it will win the game about 75 percent of the time. Of course, the other side of the argument is that “points off” turnovers matter more but I tend to debate that issue. Sure, it doesn’t suck to convert turnovers into points. It also doesn’t suck if your offense turns the ball over and then your defense holds the opposition scoreless or even makes them settle for a field goal.
However, if a team creates a turnover and either a) has a sizeable lead in the second half or b) is trying to preserve a lead late in the game, the offense’s objective is not necessarily to score. Instead, it is to run out the clock. That said, turnovers are vital whether they result in points or otherwise. If your defense creates a takeaway, it prevents the opposing offense from scoring points. If your offense turns the ball over, it is costing the team points.
Since the Huskers have to break in a new quarterback, the offense is likely to have a few bumps in the road. Therefore, if the defense can create more takeaways and give the offense a shorter field, the offense might gain confidence.
The Huskers made baby steps in creating turnovers but are going to need a quantum leap forward in 2009.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Marve to Nebraska -- would not be marvelous
I have one thing to say to the Husker coaching staff regarding former University of Miami quarterback Robert Marve considering coming to Nebraska – run!
Better yet – run fast!
The former Miami quarterback departed following his redshirt freshman season and according to various reports Michigan, Purdue, UCLA and Nebraska are among six schools still in the running for his services. Based on NCAA regulations, Marve will be eligible for two seasons, starting in 2010, meaning he has to sit out the 2009 campaign.
Marve started 11 games in 2008, throwing for 1,293 yards with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions while splitting time with true freshman Jacory Harris. Marve was suspended for Miami's season opener and for the Hurricanes' Emerald Bowl loss to Cal for violations of team rules.
Sports Illustrated also reported that after Marve decided to transfer, Miami coach Randy Shannon refused to release him to any ACC or SEC school or to any school in Florida. An appeals panel amended Marve's release, allowing him to transfer on scholarship to any school except an ACC member, Florida, Tennessee or LSU.
The Huskers could use another quarterback after Patrick Witt decided to leave the program just three weeks ago. With the graduation of Joe Ganz, Nebraska has three inexperienced quarterbacks in Zac Lee, Kody Spano and Cody Green. Spano is a redshirt freshman while Green is a true freshman while fellow true freshman Taylor Martinez also wants a shot. Green, however, is already enrolled at Nebraska while Martinez is not – thus making him a longshot for this season.
Granted, those four players have a grand total of 15 snaps under their belts at the Division I-A level. However, Marve would be an odd fit because he is deemed a “pro style” quarterback but Nebraska seems to be leaning in the direction of the dual-threat QBs with the implementation of various concepts of the Spread. Keep in mind, Witt was considered a “pro style” quarterback but that likely would have made him the odd man out in 2009 and beyond.
Most of all, however, there is the baggage that Marve comes with in terms of twice getting suspended for violating team rules. For starters, we do not have information on what those rules are but getting suspended twice in your freshman season? Twice. One time you can consider an aberration but twice is a definite red flag. Plus, Shannon actually seems like a decent guy of character. Keep in mind; these are not the loose-ship Hurricanes of the Jimmy Johnson or Dennis Erickson eras.
Keep in mind, Nebraska already tried going the free agent route (well, the college version) with Sam Keller in 2006 and that didn’t work too well.
Keller brought some baggage with him too. Reportedly, Keller (who would have been a senior) had beaten out redshirt freshman Rudy Carpenter for the starting job in 2006. Keller was named the starter just before the start of the 2006 campaign. Then Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter, however, rescinded his decision and named Carpenter the starter after his parents had threatened to transfer schools as a result of the decision.
Keller then opted to leave and subsequently transferred to Nebraska. He redshirted the 2006 season and “beat out” Ganz for the starting job but I use that term rather loosely. Then Husker head coach Bill Callahan publicly emphasized that both were “competing” for the starting job but let’s face it, the “competition” part was lip service.
Not that Keller performed poorly in 2007 but he hardly lived up to the hype. Plus, the Huskers abomination of a 5-7 season in 2007 was more attributable to the defense being a sieve.
That said when Keller suffered a season ending injury in Game 9, Ganz shined and never looked back.
Marve throws the ball with some zip but the guy strikes me as one that had a hard time with the concept of competing for his job. That reason reportedly played a role in Witt’s decision to leave.
You see, if a player is going to have a problem having to earn his stripes (i.e. starting job), do not go anywhere near him because if he can’t handle competing for his job then how is he going to survive the pressure cooker of trying to lead a team 80 yards in two minutes.
Go back to Harrison Beck in 2006. Beck, who was a highly touted recruit in the Huskers 2005 class, transferred before the start of the ’06 campaign. Zac Taylor was Nebraska’s starter at the time and deservedly so. Yet, Beck’s mother makes statements to the effect of but “it’s not like he (Taylor) is as good as Matt Leinert or Brady Quinn.”
True, Taylor might not have had the careers of those two players but he had a pretty solid career at Nebraska and there is a reason why his teammates respected him.
Beck, meanwhile, transferred to North Carolina State. Did he do anything I missed out on there? Well, Beck is now on his way to Northern Alabama (a Division II school). Good luck, Harrison, it just confirms that your mom was wrong to moan.
Better yet – run fast!
The former Miami quarterback departed following his redshirt freshman season and according to various reports Michigan, Purdue, UCLA and Nebraska are among six schools still in the running for his services. Based on NCAA regulations, Marve will be eligible for two seasons, starting in 2010, meaning he has to sit out the 2009 campaign.
Marve started 11 games in 2008, throwing for 1,293 yards with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions while splitting time with true freshman Jacory Harris. Marve was suspended for Miami's season opener and for the Hurricanes' Emerald Bowl loss to Cal for violations of team rules.
Sports Illustrated also reported that after Marve decided to transfer, Miami coach Randy Shannon refused to release him to any ACC or SEC school or to any school in Florida. An appeals panel amended Marve's release, allowing him to transfer on scholarship to any school except an ACC member, Florida, Tennessee or LSU.
The Huskers could use another quarterback after Patrick Witt decided to leave the program just three weeks ago. With the graduation of Joe Ganz, Nebraska has three inexperienced quarterbacks in Zac Lee, Kody Spano and Cody Green. Spano is a redshirt freshman while Green is a true freshman while fellow true freshman Taylor Martinez also wants a shot. Green, however, is already enrolled at Nebraska while Martinez is not – thus making him a longshot for this season.
Granted, those four players have a grand total of 15 snaps under their belts at the Division I-A level. However, Marve would be an odd fit because he is deemed a “pro style” quarterback but Nebraska seems to be leaning in the direction of the dual-threat QBs with the implementation of various concepts of the Spread. Keep in mind, Witt was considered a “pro style” quarterback but that likely would have made him the odd man out in 2009 and beyond.
Most of all, however, there is the baggage that Marve comes with in terms of twice getting suspended for violating team rules. For starters, we do not have information on what those rules are but getting suspended twice in your freshman season? Twice. One time you can consider an aberration but twice is a definite red flag. Plus, Shannon actually seems like a decent guy of character. Keep in mind; these are not the loose-ship Hurricanes of the Jimmy Johnson or Dennis Erickson eras.
Keep in mind, Nebraska already tried going the free agent route (well, the college version) with Sam Keller in 2006 and that didn’t work too well.
Keller brought some baggage with him too. Reportedly, Keller (who would have been a senior) had beaten out redshirt freshman Rudy Carpenter for the starting job in 2006. Keller was named the starter just before the start of the 2006 campaign. Then Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter, however, rescinded his decision and named Carpenter the starter after his parents had threatened to transfer schools as a result of the decision.
Keller then opted to leave and subsequently transferred to Nebraska. He redshirted the 2006 season and “beat out” Ganz for the starting job but I use that term rather loosely. Then Husker head coach Bill Callahan publicly emphasized that both were “competing” for the starting job but let’s face it, the “competition” part was lip service.
Not that Keller performed poorly in 2007 but he hardly lived up to the hype. Plus, the Huskers abomination of a 5-7 season in 2007 was more attributable to the defense being a sieve.
That said when Keller suffered a season ending injury in Game 9, Ganz shined and never looked back.
Marve throws the ball with some zip but the guy strikes me as one that had a hard time with the concept of competing for his job. That reason reportedly played a role in Witt’s decision to leave.
You see, if a player is going to have a problem having to earn his stripes (i.e. starting job), do not go anywhere near him because if he can’t handle competing for his job then how is he going to survive the pressure cooker of trying to lead a team 80 yards in two minutes.
Go back to Harrison Beck in 2006. Beck, who was a highly touted recruit in the Huskers 2005 class, transferred before the start of the ’06 campaign. Zac Taylor was Nebraska’s starter at the time and deservedly so. Yet, Beck’s mother makes statements to the effect of but “it’s not like he (Taylor) is as good as Matt Leinert or Brady Quinn.”
True, Taylor might not have had the careers of those two players but he had a pretty solid career at Nebraska and there is a reason why his teammates respected him.
Beck, meanwhile, transferred to North Carolina State. Did he do anything I missed out on there? Well, Beck is now on his way to Northern Alabama (a Division II school). Good luck, Harrison, it just confirms that your mom was wrong to moan.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Good riddance Matt Perrault. Exit stage left
According to a report on omahacityweekly.com, KXSP-590 AM sports talk show host Matt Perrault will be leaving his post at the end of the month.
It’s never a joyous occasion when someone loses their job. Trust me, I’ve been there. However, to Perrault, I say good riddance.
Given that his show had reportedly dipped near the bottom of Omaha radio station ratings with the exception of during Creighton basketball season, I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that he is gone. Of course, I have not heard the “how” part (dismissal or resignation) of Perrault’s departure.
As a 1997 University of Nebraska alum in Northern California, I frequently keep up on Husker news via the internet whether it is the newspaper’s internet site, fan blogs and podcasts.
I even decided to start my own fan blog for recreational purposes to go along with my full-time job as a sports reporter and photographer for two weekly newspapers (St. Helena Star and Weekly Calistogan) in Northern California. The blog is primarily about Husker football but I will touch on other topics when the spirit moves.
Anyhow, just a little more than a year ago, my wife and I got a computer that was compatible with the podcasts of Perrault’s show along with Unsportsmanlike Conduct (hosted by Kevin Kugler and Mike’L Severe) and Sports Nightly (hosted by Lane Grindle). Well, since I know Kugler personally having worked with him when I lived in Nebraska, I knew I would likely gravitate toward his show but wanted to keep an open mind.
I generally enjoy listening to Grindle but after a week of listening to Perrault, I personally wanted to stick my head in an oven. In a nutshell, I stopped listening to Perrault entirely and have primarily listened to Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Sports Nightly.
Based on reading some message boards, Perrault was often criticized for being a “Creighton homer/anti-Husker” in a state that is Husker dominated. Granted, Nebraska and Creighton fans have some condescension for each other but let’s be honest – we’re not talking North Carolina-Duke or Auburn-Alabama here.
Personally, I didn’t have a huge problem with his promoting Creighton. After all, one key to having a good product is offering someone something that cannot get anywhere else. Plus, sports 590 AM airs Creighton broadcasts.
My biggest issues with Perrault were that he came off as an arrogant pipsqueak who belongs in a fraternity. Perrault, who is from the Boston area, also shoved his love for Boston teams (i.e. the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots) down our unwanting throats. OK, we all have our favorite pro sports teams. I get that. We often refer to them as “we.” Again, I get that. However, this is not Boston. People in Nebraska do not tune in to your show to hear about the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots.
In the meantime, I’ll keep listening to Kugler. Keep up the good work, Kevin.
It’s never a joyous occasion when someone loses their job. Trust me, I’ve been there. However, to Perrault, I say good riddance.
Given that his show had reportedly dipped near the bottom of Omaha radio station ratings with the exception of during Creighton basketball season, I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that he is gone. Of course, I have not heard the “how” part (dismissal or resignation) of Perrault’s departure.
As a 1997 University of Nebraska alum in Northern California, I frequently keep up on Husker news via the internet whether it is the newspaper’s internet site, fan blogs and podcasts.
I even decided to start my own fan blog for recreational purposes to go along with my full-time job as a sports reporter and photographer for two weekly newspapers (St. Helena Star and Weekly Calistogan) in Northern California. The blog is primarily about Husker football but I will touch on other topics when the spirit moves.
Anyhow, just a little more than a year ago, my wife and I got a computer that was compatible with the podcasts of Perrault’s show along with Unsportsmanlike Conduct (hosted by Kevin Kugler and Mike’L Severe) and Sports Nightly (hosted by Lane Grindle). Well, since I know Kugler personally having worked with him when I lived in Nebraska, I knew I would likely gravitate toward his show but wanted to keep an open mind.
I generally enjoy listening to Grindle but after a week of listening to Perrault, I personally wanted to stick my head in an oven. In a nutshell, I stopped listening to Perrault entirely and have primarily listened to Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Sports Nightly.
Based on reading some message boards, Perrault was often criticized for being a “Creighton homer/anti-Husker” in a state that is Husker dominated. Granted, Nebraska and Creighton fans have some condescension for each other but let’s be honest – we’re not talking North Carolina-Duke or Auburn-Alabama here.
Personally, I didn’t have a huge problem with his promoting Creighton. After all, one key to having a good product is offering someone something that cannot get anywhere else. Plus, sports 590 AM airs Creighton broadcasts.
My biggest issues with Perrault were that he came off as an arrogant pipsqueak who belongs in a fraternity. Perrault, who is from the Boston area, also shoved his love for Boston teams (i.e. the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots) down our unwanting throats. OK, we all have our favorite pro sports teams. I get that. We often refer to them as “we.” Again, I get that. However, this is not Boston. People in Nebraska do not tune in to your show to hear about the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots.
In the meantime, I’ll keep listening to Kugler. Keep up the good work, Kevin.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Redshirt does not mean red flag
Husker fans have heard the word “culture” used quite a bit. There was Bill Callahan “flipping” the culture in his tenure as head coach from 2004-2007. Since Bo Pelini came aboard as Nebraska’s head coach, the word “culture” takes on a far different meaning.
Such as valuing the walk-on program. Such as mixing with the masses of the fan base. Such as scraping the “NFL mentality” that while I enjoy on one level, just does not work at college level. Especially at Nebraska. Such as fielding teams that outwork the opposition. Most of all, such as redshirting and developing incoming athletes.
Defense is Pelini’s forte and while Nebraska rising from 112th overall in 2007 to 55th a year ago was a welcome site, it’s no where near where Pelini aspires. Pelini said as much about Nebraska’s 9-4 finish in 2008. Again, it’s a good start under the new regime but not where the program ultimately needs to be. With the Huskers being talent deficient in some areas (i.e., linebacker), some fans wondered why Pelini did not burn redshirts and put talented freshmen on the field.
The reason? It’s about the process of developing them the right way. If you start a talent-limited but experienced senior over a potentially talented but inexperienced freshman, that suggests that the coach is here for the long haul. Pelini redshirted virtually his entire 2008 recruiting class and is likely to follow that trend for the 2009 class and as long as he is in charge of the Husker program.
Most people have wondered if true-freshman-to-be quarterback Cody Green suddenly has a shot at becoming the starting signal-caller since Patrick Witt left the program. The feeling here is that the job belongs to Zac Lee, with whom Witt was supposed to compete for the starting job. The feeling is also that the only way Green’s redshirt gets lifted is if Lee or redshirt freshman Kody Spano gets hurt.
Anyhow, back to this whole “culture” thing and how it pertains to redshirting freshmen. The current NCAA rules state that an eligible athlete has five years to complete four seasons. Therefore, student-athletes may practice for a team but not play in a game for one season, not counting against his or her four seasons of eligibility. This is known as a redshirt. Fans don’t see their contributions in that they do not happen on gameday but the redshirt season is a valuable year in a system in that it provides shelter against some of the harsh realities of jumping to a new level of football.
You see, some highly-touted high school studs make their college choices in the recruiting process based on early playing time. Some coaches promise it or tell the youngster he has a fair chance to compete for playing time. Others will demand an automatic redshirt. Pelini might not redshirt 100 percent of his recruits as freshmen but it’s going to be rare when he does not.
Pelini redshirted 50 scholarship players (including walkons) last season. As mentioned earlier, the Huskers were already thin at linebacker entering 2008. So thin they converted running back Cody Glenn to linebacker. Glenn, who earned the starting weakside linebacker job, was suspended late in the season and starting linebacker Phillip Dillard was limited the last half of the season with an ankle injury. Pelini still resisted the temptation of burning redshirts on talented players like Sean Fisher, Will Compton and Alonzo Whaley.
There are numerous reasons to redshirt freshmen. For starters, the college game moves a hell of a lot faster than high school, which means decisions have to be made faster. Therefore, the extra season working against starters in practice is a benefit.
Also, highly touted high school studs were often the stars of their team and their league. They were exponentially better than their high school peers. In college, everyone is at least as good if not better. That extra year of conditioning will give the youngster a better chance to handle the rigors of a 12-14 game college schedule.
The verbiage of a playbook (especially on offense) is also far greater in college than in high school as is the intricacy of reading the opposition. Some of that pressure can be alleviated during a redshirt season.
Then there is the whole matter of adjusting from high school to college away from the field. For some of these youngsters, it’s their first time away from home. All of the sudden cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and partying are a juggling act. Throw that in with trying to balance academics with athletics.
Pelini understands that the temptation to put the best talent on the field is tough to overcome. The development of a successful program, however, is not about talent alone but it is about the development of an overall player and his maturity to handle the pressures and demands of being a great college football player.
You sense the roster is being better managed under Pelini than Callahan and one of the biggest indications was beating a Clemson team that was obviously faster, more athletic than our team.
I am of the opinion that the star system only matters in high school and freshman year. I will take a three star senior with four years of good coaching over a five-star freshman that demands early playing time with huge expectations and not much else any day.
Such as valuing the walk-on program. Such as mixing with the masses of the fan base. Such as scraping the “NFL mentality” that while I enjoy on one level, just does not work at college level. Especially at Nebraska. Such as fielding teams that outwork the opposition. Most of all, such as redshirting and developing incoming athletes.
Defense is Pelini’s forte and while Nebraska rising from 112th overall in 2007 to 55th a year ago was a welcome site, it’s no where near where Pelini aspires. Pelini said as much about Nebraska’s 9-4 finish in 2008. Again, it’s a good start under the new regime but not where the program ultimately needs to be. With the Huskers being talent deficient in some areas (i.e., linebacker), some fans wondered why Pelini did not burn redshirts and put talented freshmen on the field.
The reason? It’s about the process of developing them the right way. If you start a talent-limited but experienced senior over a potentially talented but inexperienced freshman, that suggests that the coach is here for the long haul. Pelini redshirted virtually his entire 2008 recruiting class and is likely to follow that trend for the 2009 class and as long as he is in charge of the Husker program.
Most people have wondered if true-freshman-to-be quarterback Cody Green suddenly has a shot at becoming the starting signal-caller since Patrick Witt left the program. The feeling here is that the job belongs to Zac Lee, with whom Witt was supposed to compete for the starting job. The feeling is also that the only way Green’s redshirt gets lifted is if Lee or redshirt freshman Kody Spano gets hurt.
Anyhow, back to this whole “culture” thing and how it pertains to redshirting freshmen. The current NCAA rules state that an eligible athlete has five years to complete four seasons. Therefore, student-athletes may practice for a team but not play in a game for one season, not counting against his or her four seasons of eligibility. This is known as a redshirt. Fans don’t see their contributions in that they do not happen on gameday but the redshirt season is a valuable year in a system in that it provides shelter against some of the harsh realities of jumping to a new level of football.
You see, some highly-touted high school studs make their college choices in the recruiting process based on early playing time. Some coaches promise it or tell the youngster he has a fair chance to compete for playing time. Others will demand an automatic redshirt. Pelini might not redshirt 100 percent of his recruits as freshmen but it’s going to be rare when he does not.
Pelini redshirted 50 scholarship players (including walkons) last season. As mentioned earlier, the Huskers were already thin at linebacker entering 2008. So thin they converted running back Cody Glenn to linebacker. Glenn, who earned the starting weakside linebacker job, was suspended late in the season and starting linebacker Phillip Dillard was limited the last half of the season with an ankle injury. Pelini still resisted the temptation of burning redshirts on talented players like Sean Fisher, Will Compton and Alonzo Whaley.
There are numerous reasons to redshirt freshmen. For starters, the college game moves a hell of a lot faster than high school, which means decisions have to be made faster. Therefore, the extra season working against starters in practice is a benefit.
Also, highly touted high school studs were often the stars of their team and their league. They were exponentially better than their high school peers. In college, everyone is at least as good if not better. That extra year of conditioning will give the youngster a better chance to handle the rigors of a 12-14 game college schedule.
The verbiage of a playbook (especially on offense) is also far greater in college than in high school as is the intricacy of reading the opposition. Some of that pressure can be alleviated during a redshirt season.
Then there is the whole matter of adjusting from high school to college away from the field. For some of these youngsters, it’s their first time away from home. All of the sudden cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and partying are a juggling act. Throw that in with trying to balance academics with athletics.
Pelini understands that the temptation to put the best talent on the field is tough to overcome. The development of a successful program, however, is not about talent alone but it is about the development of an overall player and his maturity to handle the pressures and demands of being a great college football player.
You sense the roster is being better managed under Pelini than Callahan and one of the biggest indications was beating a Clemson team that was obviously faster, more athletic than our team.
I am of the opinion that the star system only matters in high school and freshman year. I will take a three star senior with four years of good coaching over a five-star freshman that demands early playing time with huge expectations and not much else any day.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
2009 Nebraska football outlook: coaching
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2009 season. Today, we look coaching:
Looking back: After the Huskers ended the 2007 season that was horrible of historical proportions, resulting in the dismissal of head coach Bill Callahan, the fan base and program entered the 2008 campaign optimistic that Bo Pelini (the people’s choice) would begin to lead the Huskers back to respectability.
Expectations ranged from 7-5 on the low end to 10-2 on the high end. The latter, of course, were primarily the Kool-Aid sippers who could not understand that Pelini’s task would not be a quick fix.
The Huskers went 9-4 including a season-closing 26-21 win in the Gator Bowl over Clemson. Nebraska twice battled back from 11-point deficits against an underachieving but talented Tiger club.
The blowout losses to Oklahoma (62-28) and Missouri (52-17) were disappointing but Nebraska finished the season by winning six of its last seven games.
Pelini and his staff did an excellent job laying the foundation as far as beginning to develop players. The Huskers might not have always played smart and had their limitations as far as talent but the days of being ill-prepared and playing lifeless football appear to be a thing of the past.
The staff was excellent during the week as far as bringing out that extra something in the players. For the first time since Tom Osborne was the head coach, players really seemed to learn from the coaches and enjoyed a bond with them that was lacking under Callahan and to a lesser degree Frank Solich.
As far as gameday is concerned, the staff showed great ability to make adjustments to the scheme that fit the talent of the roster. What a concept but I digress.
Looking ahead: Going from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008 was the easy part. The hard part will be going from 9-4 to say 11-2. Then again, losses to Virginia Tech (35-30) and Texas Tech (37-31 in overtime) could have easily produced an 11-2 mark last season but the truth of the matter is that the higher a team attempts to shoot up the ladder, the smaller the margin for error becomes.
The culture is definitely in place and so is the foundation. The focus of spring practice this season will be about refining the principles that were established last season.
Pelini brings an infectious passion, which can be two-fold. The team takes on his personality in that they never once quit. Pelini just needs to continue to improve on harnessing those emotions (i.e. picking battles with referees more carefully). Being passionate is one thing, excessive sideline histrionics are another.
Perhaps, quarterback Patrick Witt’s decision to leave the program in part because Pelini reportedly refused to kowtow to Witt’s father’s desire to have his son named the starting quarterback by the end of spring drills is an example of the coaching staff taking back the reigns of the program.
Too often, Callahan and Solich kowtowed to the players.
Perhaps the best decision Pelini made was to redshirt virtually the entire 2008 recruiting class. Why not? After all, very few high school athletes are ready to make the jump to Div. I-A immediately so why not develop them the right way?
The Huskers might not have the breakout season we are ultimately expecting but the foundation is in place.
Looking back: After the Huskers ended the 2007 season that was horrible of historical proportions, resulting in the dismissal of head coach Bill Callahan, the fan base and program entered the 2008 campaign optimistic that Bo Pelini (the people’s choice) would begin to lead the Huskers back to respectability.
Expectations ranged from 7-5 on the low end to 10-2 on the high end. The latter, of course, were primarily the Kool-Aid sippers who could not understand that Pelini’s task would not be a quick fix.
The Huskers went 9-4 including a season-closing 26-21 win in the Gator Bowl over Clemson. Nebraska twice battled back from 11-point deficits against an underachieving but talented Tiger club.
The blowout losses to Oklahoma (62-28) and Missouri (52-17) were disappointing but Nebraska finished the season by winning six of its last seven games.
Pelini and his staff did an excellent job laying the foundation as far as beginning to develop players. The Huskers might not have always played smart and had their limitations as far as talent but the days of being ill-prepared and playing lifeless football appear to be a thing of the past.
The staff was excellent during the week as far as bringing out that extra something in the players. For the first time since Tom Osborne was the head coach, players really seemed to learn from the coaches and enjoyed a bond with them that was lacking under Callahan and to a lesser degree Frank Solich.
As far as gameday is concerned, the staff showed great ability to make adjustments to the scheme that fit the talent of the roster. What a concept but I digress.
Looking ahead: Going from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008 was the easy part. The hard part will be going from 9-4 to say 11-2. Then again, losses to Virginia Tech (35-30) and Texas Tech (37-31 in overtime) could have easily produced an 11-2 mark last season but the truth of the matter is that the higher a team attempts to shoot up the ladder, the smaller the margin for error becomes.
The culture is definitely in place and so is the foundation. The focus of spring practice this season will be about refining the principles that were established last season.
Pelini brings an infectious passion, which can be two-fold. The team takes on his personality in that they never once quit. Pelini just needs to continue to improve on harnessing those emotions (i.e. picking battles with referees more carefully). Being passionate is one thing, excessive sideline histrionics are another.
Perhaps, quarterback Patrick Witt’s decision to leave the program in part because Pelini reportedly refused to kowtow to Witt’s father’s desire to have his son named the starting quarterback by the end of spring drills is an example of the coaching staff taking back the reigns of the program.
Too often, Callahan and Solich kowtowed to the players.
Perhaps the best decision Pelini made was to redshirt virtually the entire 2008 recruiting class. Why not? After all, very few high school athletes are ready to make the jump to Div. I-A immediately so why not develop them the right way?
The Huskers might not have the breakout season we are ultimately expecting but the foundation is in place.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
2009 Nebraska football: kick returns/coverage
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2009 season. Today, we look at kick return and kick coverage:
Looking back: The common memory most people have of the Bill Callahan era was that special teams were an afterthought. Remember how we used to bristle at Santino Panico’s constant fair catches and paltry 3.1 average on punt returns in 2004? Remember also Tierre Green and Brandon Jackson averaging a rather pedestrian 19.2 and 21.1 yards per kickoff return?
Then in 2005, the punt return was actually a weapon with Terrence Nunn (10.4 yards) and Cortney Grixby (18.3 yards).
Kick returns and kick coverage was one of the few areas, if not the only, where Nebraska did not progress significantly in Bo Pelini’s first season as head coach.
The return game progressed somewhat as Nebraska improved from 8.2 yards per punt return from 2007 to 2008 but the kickoff return average was a virtual stalemate going from 21.2 to 21.8. The coverage unit averages against, however, did not improve. Nebraska allowed 21.9 yards per kickoff in 2007 and 23.9 in 2008. The Huskers allowed opponents to average 6.5 yards per punt in 2007 and 9.5 in 2008.
While the offensive return game was not bad, it was not a weapon either. While the coverage units were not a sieve, they were far from championship material. In fact, the most effective way for Nebraska to cover kicks were either punter Dan Titchner directional kicking or Adi Kunalic booting the ball out of the end zone.
Looking ahead: With Kunalic and Alex Henery both being juniors, the Husker placekicking game is the least of their worries. The biggest concern is replacing Titchner even though he seldom blasted a big punt.
Nebraska needs work in this area if is to get back to being a championship material program. The coverage units were average at best and occasional below that level.
Niles Pauls and Nate Swift showed flashes of brilliance but also fumbled at critical times against Clemson and Kansas. Luckily for the Huskers, neither mishap cost them a win.
Special teams is often referred to as the third phase of football but it’s a phase every team needs because there will inevitably be days where the offense or defense struggles.
Looking back: The common memory most people have of the Bill Callahan era was that special teams were an afterthought. Remember how we used to bristle at Santino Panico’s constant fair catches and paltry 3.1 average on punt returns in 2004? Remember also Tierre Green and Brandon Jackson averaging a rather pedestrian 19.2 and 21.1 yards per kickoff return?
Then in 2005, the punt return was actually a weapon with Terrence Nunn (10.4 yards) and Cortney Grixby (18.3 yards).
Kick returns and kick coverage was one of the few areas, if not the only, where Nebraska did not progress significantly in Bo Pelini’s first season as head coach.
The return game progressed somewhat as Nebraska improved from 8.2 yards per punt return from 2007 to 2008 but the kickoff return average was a virtual stalemate going from 21.2 to 21.8. The coverage unit averages against, however, did not improve. Nebraska allowed 21.9 yards per kickoff in 2007 and 23.9 in 2008. The Huskers allowed opponents to average 6.5 yards per punt in 2007 and 9.5 in 2008.
While the offensive return game was not bad, it was not a weapon either. While the coverage units were not a sieve, they were far from championship material. In fact, the most effective way for Nebraska to cover kicks were either punter Dan Titchner directional kicking or Adi Kunalic booting the ball out of the end zone.
Looking ahead: With Kunalic and Alex Henery both being juniors, the Husker placekicking game is the least of their worries. The biggest concern is replacing Titchner even though he seldom blasted a big punt.
Nebraska needs work in this area if is to get back to being a championship material program. The coverage units were average at best and occasional below that level.
Niles Pauls and Nate Swift showed flashes of brilliance but also fumbled at critical times against Clemson and Kansas. Luckily for the Huskers, neither mishap cost them a win.
Special teams is often referred to as the third phase of football but it’s a phase every team needs because there will inevitably be days where the offense or defense struggles.
Monday, March 2, 2009
2009 Nebraska position outlook: kicker & punter
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2009 season. Today, we look at kickers and punters:
Looking back: The Huskers rarely seemed to trust the kicking game in a dire situation under former head coach Bill Callahan. Did that ever change under Bo Pelini?
Flash back to the post Thanksgiving Day against Colorado with the Big Red trailing the hated Colorado Buffaloes 31-30 with under two minutes left. Nebraska faced fourth-and-25 at the Colorado 40. What do you do? Go for the first down or kick a 57-yard field goal? Both are low percentage plays.
Leave it to Alex Henery to tell Pelini, “I can make it.” Keep in mind Adi Kunalic was the kickoff specialist meant to handle long field goals, yet Henery volunteered and deftly nailed the 57-yarder through the uprights to put the Huskers in front 33-31.
In 2007, Husker kickers actually went 9-for-9 on field goal attempts with nary a try going beyond 50 yards and only one outside the 40-yard plateau. Kunalic accounted for 28 touchbacks on 66 kickoffs that season. Punter Dan Titchner averaged a solid 41.3 yards per punt with 16 of 49 punts going inside the 20. Problem is the defense that year was useless when it came to stopping opponents.
Henerey handled all of the placekicking chores while Kunalic handled the kickoff duties. Henerey went 18-of-21 while Kunalic kicked off 81 times for 29 touchbacks. Titchner’s game suffered just a bit with his average dropping to 39.3 yards per boot but 13 of his 42 punts went inside the 20.
Looking ahead: With Kunalic and Henery both being juniors, the Husker placekicking game is the least of their worries.
The biggest concern is replacing Titchner even though his numbers slipped. Could Henery pull double duty as a punter and kicker? He did such at Omaha Burke High. Henery brings the intangibles that Nebraska walk-ons have, which Pelini covets. Or will Nebraska turn to redshirt freshman Brett Maher?
The Huskers have had good luck finding players to plug in at punter. With inexperience at quarterback, the Huskers will need to find a viable option at punter when the offense sputters and will also need Henery to continue developing into the clutch weapon he has become.
Looking back: The Huskers rarely seemed to trust the kicking game in a dire situation under former head coach Bill Callahan. Did that ever change under Bo Pelini?
Flash back to the post Thanksgiving Day against Colorado with the Big Red trailing the hated Colorado Buffaloes 31-30 with under two minutes left. Nebraska faced fourth-and-25 at the Colorado 40. What do you do? Go for the first down or kick a 57-yard field goal? Both are low percentage plays.
Leave it to Alex Henery to tell Pelini, “I can make it.” Keep in mind Adi Kunalic was the kickoff specialist meant to handle long field goals, yet Henery volunteered and deftly nailed the 57-yarder through the uprights to put the Huskers in front 33-31.
In 2007, Husker kickers actually went 9-for-9 on field goal attempts with nary a try going beyond 50 yards and only one outside the 40-yard plateau. Kunalic accounted for 28 touchbacks on 66 kickoffs that season. Punter Dan Titchner averaged a solid 41.3 yards per punt with 16 of 49 punts going inside the 20. Problem is the defense that year was useless when it came to stopping opponents.
Henerey handled all of the placekicking chores while Kunalic handled the kickoff duties. Henerey went 18-of-21 while Kunalic kicked off 81 times for 29 touchbacks. Titchner’s game suffered just a bit with his average dropping to 39.3 yards per boot but 13 of his 42 punts went inside the 20.
Looking ahead: With Kunalic and Henery both being juniors, the Husker placekicking game is the least of their worries.
The biggest concern is replacing Titchner even though his numbers slipped. Could Henery pull double duty as a punter and kicker? He did such at Omaha Burke High. Henery brings the intangibles that Nebraska walk-ons have, which Pelini covets. Or will Nebraska turn to redshirt freshman Brett Maher?
The Huskers have had good luck finding players to plug in at punter. With inexperience at quarterback, the Huskers will need to find a viable option at punter when the offense sputters and will also need Henery to continue developing into the clutch weapon he has become.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)